- MEANING
Device fingerprinting, also known as machine, canvas, or browser fingerprinting, is the process of identifying a device (or browser) by its particular and distinctive configuration. Device fingerprints must be saved server-side, that is, in a database, as opposed to web cookies, which are stored client-side, that is, on the user’s device. Also learn to install device fingerprint solution
- INFORMATION REQUIRED
Device-fingerprinting services combine several data pieces to establish fingerprints:
- URL request headers for IP addresses
- String user agent
- Plugins installed
- time zone of the client
- Details about the client device, including operating system, language, touch capability, and screen resolution
- A Flash plugin provides the Flash data.
- List of typefaces that are installed
- Data in Silverlight
- Enumeration of mime types
- Moment in time
- WHY DEVICE FINGERPRINTING IS USED?
The tendency for people to utilize numerous devices to do activities is growing as they become more connected and perform more chores online. Additionally, this hinders businesses’ ability to establish a human connection with their target markets.
The difficulty of using traditional web monitoring methods has only made this issue worse. With the long-standing foundation of digital advertising, cookies are becoming less and less acceptable in the privacy-conscious world of today. Second, users may simply remove cookies from their system.
Thirdly, cookies enable ad blockers to recognize advertisements and ad campaigns more readily, so eliminating any possibility that an advertiser can establish a connection with a potential client. A
- HOW DOES IT WORK?
The device fingerprint tracker gathers all pertinent device data (browser version/type, OS, etc.) and is usually implemented as a JavaScript component.
From there, it’s similar to utilizing tidbits of information about Internet users to play the detective board game Clue: you may not always have a whole picture of every user, but the more data you have, the simpler it is to apply statistics and focus on a single individual.
Similar to the above-mentioned data points, device fingerprinting providers compile their own. Next, give it a distinct fingerprint or hash. Tracking and attribution accuracy is significantly increased when utilized in conjunction with cookies or other identifiers.
- IMPACT OF GDPR ONE DEVICE FINGERPRINTING
The underlying idea is that these fragments of data are personal and may be utilized to directly or indirectly identify a person.
Under GDPR, any information that may be used to identify a specific person is considered personal data. Determining an individual’s identity is not the main goal; rather, it’s about recognizing them, such as frequent website visitors. Conversely, GDPR does not specify any rules regarding device fingerprinting and is technology-neutral.
- POSSIBLE USE CASES OF DEVICE FINGERPRINTING
Here are some instances of applications for device fingerprinting:
- ANALYTICS AND TRACKING: To generate user profiles and target them with customized advertising, advertisers and AdTech providers also employ device fingerprinting to identify and follow users across the Internet.
- PREVENTING CREDIT CARD AND BANK FRAUD: Determining whether an online banking session has been compromised is one example.
- COMBATING COMMERCE FUND: When assessing if an order is fraudulent and has to be canceled, device fingerprints can be quite helpful.
